Life's a beach

Now a GP in Wandsworth, south-west London, is testing this out by installing a beach in his waiting room, complete with sand, sun loungers and parasols. Dr Alex Bobak thinks that a lot of illnesses suffered at this time of year are consistent with poor weather and limited daylight.

'The patients love it. They sit back in the deck chairs and for once would rather be in the waiting room than in my room,' he said.